Reeder Custom Guns - A few posts down Woody mentioed he stayed with stainless

steel frame on compact .45, for one reason, reliability.
What makes the steel frame more reliable than the aluminum so many manufacturers are using. I have heard, maybe even on this forum that the steel slide is pretty rough on aluminum frames during the ejection process. Can one of you help me with this.

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hold the frame still(along with your arm) to counter the rearward action of the slide so as to prevent an empty case from jamming up in the ejection port. Helps to prevent the proverbial "limp wrist" effect. For a long time Wilson Combat and maybe a few other popular custom 1911 builders would not use the alloy frames at all for fear of acquiring a reputation for unreliable pistols for that very reason. When I carry a shorty 1911 for self defense it will be a steel frame, without exception. I have no issue with alloy framed commanders or gov't models, which I have. But that's just me.

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more of a chance of a jam with a lightweight frame but only for those that are not used to their gun. I have carried either my Star PD or a Colt lightweight Commander for over 40 years and have shot both a lot. As far as I can remember I have never had a jam due to the slide not coming back far enough to dump the old brass and load the new one. It all has to do with being familiar with your gun. I shot in the combat shoots for about 7 years and put over 70,000 rounds thru an AMT Long Slide and doing that I learned real quick to put a death grip on my gun and forget a one handed hold.

So yes an aluminum frame can cause problems but not because it is aluminum, but due to the shooter not being fully familiar with his gun. We get folks in our shop quite often with jamming problems with their guns. Two in this last week. Usually I will watch them shoot the gun and invariably they will limp wrist it and these were steel frame guns, a Kimber and a Rock Island, both guns were the small 3" barreled guns. They simply weren't giving the slide enough forward pressure to allow it to cycle fully and it ended up with a stovepipe in both instances.

So it is not always the lightweight frame that causes jams. It can just as easily and more often be due to a failure of the shooter to control his pistol.

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the slide? Doesn't the slide come back and go forward with the same force if it is held by hand, a Ransom Rest, or fired while laying on a kitchen table?

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The whole gun twist back and the slide looses momentum and won't cycle. Gary is right on the money with his advice.

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A few posts down Woody mentioed he stayed with stainless

It adds additional weight in the hand to

I think that is part of it but not all of it. Yes there is

The Nut on the grip usually causes the problem.

I resemble that...

HA! So have I at times.

How can someone's grip affect

No, if you limp wrist many autos they won't cycle properly..

Gary did you sell those guys compensators?